Sunfoil Dolphins players and staff alike will combine on Mandela Day on Monday, 18 July in an effort to help those in need within Umlazi’s cricketing circles by giving the township’s clubhouse a much needed facelift.

After its launch in 2009, on the late icon Nelson Mandela’s 91st birthday, the global Mandela Day movement seeks to address the world’s social injustices and change the world for the better, no matter how small the action.

As their contribution to the day’s drive, the province’s top cricketers and administrators will breathe new life into Umlazi Comtech High School and Umlazi Cricket Club’s shared facility that the KwaZulu-Natal Cricket Union built a few years ago.

“As players, it is great to be involved in refurbishing Umlazi Comtech and Umlazi Cricket Club’s facility this Mandela Day,” says Sunfoil Dolphins captain, Morné van Wyk.

“Many of us often take the fantastic facilities that we benefit from daily for granted and sometimes forget that no everyone is as fortunate as we are.

“To lend a helping hand to others who share the same cricketing passion that we do as the Dolphins team is great,” he adds.

The day’s plan includes a much needed revamp of the structure’s plumbing, painting, basic woodwork on the doors, gardening around the clubhouse as well as other general maintenance.

“At great personal sacrifice, Nelson Mandela followed three rules throughout his life – free yourself, free others and serve every day – and was an example to all of us when it came to assisting those in need,” says Sunfoil Dolphins CEO, Pete de Wet.

“While it would be naïve to aim to replicate Madiba’s life efforts, we can all do our little bit in our local communities to help improve things for those around us.

“Hopefully a refreshed playing environment will help pave the way for Umlazi’s future stars and social cricketers alike to continue their love for the game and give them the platform to continue developing both as players and as people,” he adds.

Sunfoil Dolphins Craig Alexander, Daryn Dupavillon, Divan van Wyk, Imraan Khan, Khaya Zondo, Prenelan Subrayen, Vaughn van Jaarsveld, Mthokozisi Shezi, Rabian Engelbrecht and Brandon Scullard will all be in attendance on the day.

Through the generous support of Spur Steak Ranches, 1200 Umlazi Comtech pupils will celebrate the day with a delicious Spur burger while also rubbing shoulders with their favourite Dolphins heroes when they take advantage of the day’s autograph opportunity.